A Northern Irish designer whose silverware is used to decorate the tables of 10 Downing Street when the Prime Minister hosts foreign dignitaries has been awarded a £15,000 bursary.

Cara Murphy (47) from Lisburn will be using the Rosy James Memorial Trust Award to learn new skills - from her own mum, famed enamellist, Deirdre McCrory.

Administrated by the Arts Council, the award helps craft makers develop their careers creating work which might otherwise have been unaffordable.

Cara said her work has developed recently to include colour elements. She explained: "I have been in the fortunate position that my mother, Deirdre McCrory, has added that colour through vitreous enamel to several works that I have created. I am delighted to have been awarded the Rosemary James Memorial Trust Award to allow this to happen."